light

What a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday we have had! It was strange to not be with family, but on the other hand it gave us a whole new experience. We were able to share it with some of great friends out here  - and we lucked out with a fabulous meal and wonderful company. Now we are counting the days until we are on the plane to Utah. We are of course excited to be with family, but it will also be a relief knowing that Erik is all done with his first semester of Grad school! I love this time of year. The other night Erik and I were sitting in our living room and we had just the Christmas lights on. There is something about the light of Christmas lights - I love it! I think it has to be one of my favorite things. It reminds me of when I was little and we would sleep in by the Christmas tree. Even then I still remember thinking about how safe and warm the room seemed by the light of the tree. I can't wait to go to Temple Square to take in that light. What I especially love is that we are able to celebrate the birth of the Savior - the Light and Life of the world.

Got the Giggles

Moments like these are Erik's FAVORITE! 

He lives to make Darla laugh. Enjoy!

Why Thanksgiving?

A lady in my ward shared part of this today in her talk about Thanksgiving. When I was reading over it I thought - why don't the leaders of our nation speak like this any more? I'm grateful for Abraham Lincoln who set aside the day of Thanksgiving. Let us all direct our thanks to God, who makes this life what it is - beautifully possible.

Joan Curtis was inspired

Before:

After:

Ok. I am not posting pictures of my dirty dish pile to show everyone how behind I get at times, or to show how wonderful I am at keeping up on my dishes. In our apartment we don't have a dishwasher. Which is fine. I'm not complaining. The main thing I am wanting to point out are those pink rubber gloves hanging over the counters edge. When I was in Jr. High all the way through high school I would be at the Curtis home constantly. Joan Curtis is the mother of my dear friends Catherine and Jane. Every time she would do the dishes she would pull out her yellow rubber gloves and go to work. I would watch her and think, "That is such a good idea!" My own mother never used gloves. But there is nothing worse than dishwater hands after all the dishes are done. So, ever since Erik and I got married I ALWAYS wear my pink rubber gloves and go to work. I thank and write this in memory of beautiful Joan Curtis who truly inspired a young girl who now has piles of dishes to conquer every day. 

curls

          

          

I bought some small sponge curlers at the grocery store the other day because I wanted to see what Darla would look like with curly hair. I was laughing when I took them out because just the top layer of her hair is long - so it was just these tight ringlets. The underneath part is all too short to curl. But once the curls relaxed a little it actually looked pretty cute. This picture of her and Erik is one of my new favorites. 

I am needing some suggestions of activities you can do with a 10 1/2 month old. Poor Darla, I feel like our apartment is getting smaller by the day because she has pretty much discovered every nook and cranny, and her toys just seem not so entertaining. This is one reason why I am VERY excited to go to Salt Lake - she has two Grandparents houses to explore. How lucky is she! We have gone to the library once and I hope to go this week (if you are still wanting to Rachel :) I guess I've just got to get more creative. 

just captured

picture perfect.

We woke up to snow again today, but it already looks like it isn't going to stick around. I went to Costco and printed off some pictures of Darla this week and when I picked them up the guy behind the counter said, "Wow, 44 pictures of the same little girl!" She must be a first child. It's true. We are always taking endless pictures of her DARLING face. 

Back to the weather though, snow always makes me feel like playing Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate. But, I have a rule that I can't decorate, or play Christmas music till after Thanksgiving (which isn't too far away). Not like I have many decorations - just my wonderful Charlie Brown Christmas tree (thanks to the Livingstons), and some lights. Darla's new red coat makes her look a decoration - don't you think?

2 teeth!

She got her two bottom teeth a little bit ago, but this is the first picture where you can actually see them. It has made her look more grown up to me. She is turning into a little girl instead of an infant. This week I have realized how much she really does likes music. She has always responded to singing etc, but we have been having mini dance parties to one of our favorite family summer CD's and just today she has starting pointing at the CD player and won't stop pointing and grunting towards it until I turn on her music. I love it! We had our first snow today. I LOVE waking up to falling snow. None of it really stuck though, but I guess our winter has begun. Erik always makes fun of how cold everyone thinks it is here. He mocks his classmates by still wearing shorts even though it is 33 degrees outside. Well, I probably should go shower while Darla is asleep. Any suggestions on where we go to dinner tonight?

November

 

The month is November and I cannot believe that it is. Once again time is surprising me with how quickly it moves the days along.  Luckily I have this cute face to share every day with. She is my joy (if you can't tell). 

BOO!

Well, we had a great time with Darla on her first Halloween. Yes, we did tote her around begging for candy and we actually got a pretty good stash! Thanks to the Starkie's for letting us tag along. Their girls (and little pumpkin man) were bursting with excitement. Erik was just about as excited about the candy as they were. I remember the last time I went trick-or-treating as a kid I was in 8th grade. We dressed up as 70's chicks and sprinted from house to house. I don't think I have been that tired. We ran for at least 4 hours straight. Oh the memories. I have to say as much fun as those days were - seeing little Darla be thrilled by holding one piece of candy in her fist, or just the smile she gets from being outside made this Halloween 10,000 times better than any of the others. Having her makes everyday seem like a holiday.